Preface |
8 |
Picture: A Dragonewt |
9 |
1. Getting Started |
10 |
Picture: Untitled |
15 |
2. Characters |
16 |
Heroes |
16 |
Opening Questions |
16 |
What Magnitude is This? |
16 |
What Range of Openness Is This? |
17 |
Getting Started |
17 |
Using the Narrative Method |
17 |
Backstory |
18 |
Using the List Method |
19 |
Using the Quick Start Method |
20 |
Assigning Ability Ratings |
20 |
Format for Abilities |
21 |
Common Characteristics |
21 |
Name |
21 |
Culture |
21 |
Keywords |
21 |
Goals |
22 |
Additional Traits |
22 |
Mundane Abilities |
22 |
Combat Abilities |
23 |
Magical Abilities |
23 |
Personality |
23 |
Picture: Dwarf |
24 |
Relationships |
25 |
Communities |
25 |
Supporting Characters |
25 |
Supporting Character Abilities |
25 |
Describing Your Supporting Character |
26 |
Gods, Spirits, or Saints |
26 |
Special Items |
26 |
Flaws |
26 |
Wealth |
26 |
Finishing Your Character |
27 |
Reading Your Narrative |
27 |
Sample: Character Sheet |
28 |
Character Tips and Hints |
29 |
Sympathy |
29 |
Indispensability |
29 |
Ambiguous References |
29 |
Hero Points |
30 |
Growing and Improving |
30 |
Gaining Hero Points |
30 |
Using Hero Points |
31 |
Improvement Relation to Game Play |
31 |
Table: Character Development Costs |
31 |
Improving Abilities |
32 |
Gaining Levels of Mastery |
32 |
New Abilities |
32 |
Learning a New Magical Ability |
32 |
Capture or Integrate a Spirit |
33 |
Supporting Characters |
33 |
Replacement Followers |
33 |
Other Supporting Characters |
33 |
Table: Supporting Character Ability Table |
33 |
Changing a Supporting Character’s Role |
34 |
Cementing Benefits |
34 |
Gaining New Flaws |
35 |
Buying Down Flaws |
35 |
Assigned Hero Points |
35 |
Wealth |
35 |
Standards of Living |
36 |
Minimal |
36 |
Common |
36 |
Prosperous |
36 |
Rich |
36 |
Very Rich |
37 |
Sumptuous |
37 |
Regal, Opulent |
37 |
Beyond Wealth |
37 |
Money |
37 |
Price Lists |
37 |
Table: Price List |
38 |
Picture: Two Merfolk |
40 |
3. Character Keywords |
41 |
Keyword Layout |
41 |
Cultural Keyword |
41 |
Occupation Keyword |
41 |
Magic Keyword |
42 |
Ability Notes |
42 |
Berserk Attacks |
42 |
Healing Affinities |
43 |
Gifts and Geases |
43 |
Picture:Orlanthi Warriors |
44 |
The Heortlings |
45 |
Heortling Cultural Keyword |
45 |
Heortling Occupational Keywords |
45 |
God-talker |
46 |
Healer |
46 |
Hunter |
46 |
Lawspeaker |
47 |
Merchant |
47 |
Spirit Talker |
47 |
Warrior |
48 |
Heortling Magical Keywords |
48 |
Babeester Gor |
48 |
Bevera |
49 |
Chalana Arroy |
50 |
Ernalda |
51 |
Major Aspects of Ernalda |
51 |
Ernalda the Healer |
52 |
Ernalda the Leader |
52 |
Ernalda the Mother |
53 |
Hedkoranth |
53 |
Humakt |
54 |
Picture: Orlanth |
53 |
Humakt’s Gifts and Geases |
56 |
Issaries |
57 |
Kolat |
58 |
Lankhor Mhy |
59 |
Odalya |
59 |
Orlanth |
60 |
Major Aspects of Orlanth |
61 |
Orlanth Adventurous |
61 |
Orlanth Rex |
62 |
Orlanth Thunderous |
62 |
Vangath |
63 |
Flying |
64 |
Orlanthi Flying |
64 |
Solar Flight |
64 |
Spirit Flight |
64 |
Sorcerous Flight |
64 |
Mystic Flight |
65 |
Vinga |
65 |
Yinkin |
65 |
Orlanthi Mythology Notes |
66 |
The Thunder Brothers |
66 |
The Lightbringers |
66 |
Heortling Advanced Experience |
67 |
Clan or Tribal Council Member |
67 |
Priest |
67 |
Picture: Three Faces of the Moon |
68 |
Warband leader |
69 |
The Lunar Empire |
69 |
Dara Happan Cultural keyword |
70 |
Special Cultural Keyword: Imperial Citizen |
70 |
Lunar Occupation Keywords |
70 |
Dilettante |
71 |
Petty Nobleman |
71 |
Scholar |
71 |
Scount or Hunter |
72 |
Trader |
72 |
Special Occupation Keywords |
72 |
Missionary |
73 |
Soldier |
73 |
Lunar Empire Magical Keywords |
74 |
Buserian |
74 |
Deezola |
75 |
Durbadath |
76 |
Etyries |
77 |
Irippi Ontor |
77 |
Jakaleel |
78 |
Kenstrata |
79 |
Lokarnos |
80 |
Makabaeus |
81 |
Sedenya |
82 |
Natha |
82 |
Aspects of Natha |
83 |
Picture: A Whirling Blades Martial Artist |
82 |
Rufelza |
85 |
Taraltara |
86 |
Seven Mothers Collective |
87 |
Urvairinus |
88 |
Yanafal Tarnils |
89 |
Yelm |
90 |
Major Aspects of Yelm |
91 |
Dara Happan Advanced Experience |
91 |
Army Officer |
91 |
Imperial Bureaucrat |
92 |
Priest |
92 |
Picture: A Praxian Nomad |
93 |
Black Horse County |
94 |
Black Horse County Cultural Keyword |
95 |
Curelan (Peasant) Caste Occupation Keywords |
95 |
Camp Servant |
95 |
Liturgist of the Atroxic Church |
95 |
Merchant |
96 |
Ridderan (Warrior) Caste Occupation Keywords |
96 |
Footman |
97 |
Liturgist of the Black Horse Order |
97 |
Rider |
97 |
Steed |
98 |
Zoberan (Magician) Caste Occupation Keywords |
98 |
Zoberan Liturgist |
98 |
Wizard |
99 |
Black Horse County Magic keywords |
99 |
The Black Horse Order |
99 |
Order of Black Iron |
100 |
Order of Damnation |
101 |
The Atroxic Church |
102 |
Black Horse County Advanced Experience |
102 |
Bishop |
102 |
Knight |
103 |
Senior Steed |
105 |
Picture:Centaur |
104 |
The Black Horses |
105 |
The Grazers |
106 |
Grazer Cultural keyword |
107 |
Grazer Occupational Keywords |
107 |
Herdsman, Rider |
107 |
Shaman |
108 |
Warrior |
108 |
Grazer Magic Keywords |
109 |
Yu-kargzant Tradition |
109 |
Great Spirits of the Yu-kargazant Tradition |
110 |
Dastal the Hunter |
110 |
Jardan the Warrior |
110 |
Henird the Leader< |
111 |
Josad the Elder |
111 |
Special Spirits of the Yu-kargzant Tradition |
111 |
La-ungariant Tradition |
112 |
Great Spirits of the La-ungariant Tradition |
113 |
Arandayla |
113 |
Special Spirits of the La-ungariant Tradition |
113 |
Grazer Advanced Experience |
113 |
Clan Chief |
113 |
War Captain |
114 |
4. Playing Hero Wars |
115 |
Die Rolling |
115 |
Critical Success |
115 |
Success |
115 |
Failure |
116 |
Fumble |
116 |
Target Number 1 |
116 |
Target Number 20 |
116 |
Victory and Defeat Levels |
116 |
Marginal |
116 |
Minor |
116 |
Major |
116 |
Complete |
116 |
Picture: A Debate |
117 |
Abilities |
118 |
Target Numbers |
118 |
Default target Numbers |
118 |
Mastery |
118 |
Mastery Results |
118 |
Table: Sample Resistances |
119 |
Cancelling out Mastery |
121 |
Special Case |
121 |
Modifiers |
121 |
Improvisation Modifier |
121 |
Picture: An Elf |
122 |
Gaining or Losing Mastery |
123 |
Modifiers from Previous Contests |
123 |
Bumping |
123 |
Bumping with Hero Points |
123 |
Bumping with Mastery |
123 |
Resistance |
124 |
Tests |
124 |
Table: Test Type |
124 |
Ordinary Consequence Chart |
125 |
Table: Ordinary Consequence Chart |
125 |
Automatic Success |
125 |
Ability Test |
126 |
No Repeated Attempts |
126 |
Simple Contests |
126 |
Table: Simple Contest Chart |
127 |
Results: |
127 |
Group Simple Contests |
128 |
Extended Contests |
128 |
Action Points (AP) |
129 |
Starting Action Points |
129 |
Desperation Stake |
129 |
How Much Do I Stake? |
130 |
Table: Extended Contest Chart |
130 |
Results: |
131 |
Subsequent Exchanges |
131 |
AP Knowledge |
131 |
Ending an Extended Contest |
131 |
Table: Ordinary AP Consequences Chart |
132 |
Group Extended Contests |
132 |
Rounds |
132 |
Order of Action |
132 |
Going before Your Turn |
133 |
Waiting to Act |
133 |
Exchanges in Group Contests |
133 |
Tactics and Options for Extended and Group Contests |
133 |
Enhancements |
133 |
Augmentation |
133 |
Table: Augmentation Resistance Chart |
134 |
Table: Augmentation Results Chart |
134 |
Edges and Handicaps |
134 |
Picture: A Troll |
135 |
Lending APs |
136 |
Switching Abilities |
137 |
Trading APs for Penalties |
138 |
Unrelated Actions |
138 |
Withdrawing from a Contest |
138 |
Positioning |
138 |
Free-for-alls |
139 |
Followers in Extended Contests |
139 |
Tracking followers |
139 |
Followers and Unrelated Actions |
140 |
Followers and Defeat |
140 |
Defending against Multiple Attachers |
140 |
Attacking Multiple Targets |
140 |
Taken Out |
141 |
Parting Shots |
141 |
Coup de Gr�ce |
141 |
Final Action |
141 |
Ending the Contest |
142 |
Concurrent Contests |
144 |
Combat |
144 |
Movement |
144 |
Equipment |
144 |
Melee Weapons |
145 |
Weapon Ranks |
145 |
Equipment Modifiers |
145 |
Missile Weapons |
145 |
Missile Ranks |
145 |
Picture: Selar Darom |
146 |
Range |
147 |
Armor |
147 |
Armor Ranks |
147 |
Equipment Modifiers |
148 |
Comparing Equipment |
148 |
Nonlethal Combat |
148 |
Script Protection |
149 |
Killing Helpless Opponents |
149 |
Describing Combat |
150 |
Grievous Wounds: An Option |
151 |
Warfare |
151 |
Injuries and Health |
152 |
Healthy |
152 |
Dazed |
153 |
Unconscious |
154 |
Hurt |
155 |
Penalties to Hurt Characters |
153 |
Recovery from Hurt |
153 |
Injured |
153 |
Penaties to Injured Characters |
153 |
Recovering from Injury |
154 |
Dying |
154 |
Dead |
154 |
Healing |
154 |
Healing in Midcontest |
154 |
Postcontest Healing |
155 |
First Aid and Minor Magical healing |
155 |
Major Healing |
155 |
Poison |
155 |
Onset |
156 |
Instant |
156 |
Lingering |
156 |
Effect |
156 |
Lethal |
156 |
Paralyzing |
156 |
Sleeping |
156 |
Passion |
156 |
Curing Poisons |
156 |
Healing Otherworldly Entities |
157 |
5. Basic Magic |
158 |
Magic is Everywhere |
158 |
The Other Side |
158 |
The Importance of Myth |
159 |
Magical Abilities |
159 |
Box: The Runes |
160 |
Describing Magic |
163 |
The Four Forms of Magic |
163 |
Theism |
164 |
Sorcery |
164 |
Animism |
164 |
Mysticism |
164 |
Picture: A Kraloreli Scribe |
165 |
Secrets |
166 |
Magical Abilities in Common |
167 |
Gaining Magical Abilities |
167 |
Narrator Characters and Magical Abilities |
167 |
Types of Worship |
167 |
Theism – Sacrifice |
168 |
Sorcery – Veneration |
168 |
Animism – Ecstatic Worship |
168 |
Mysticism – Asceticism |
169 |
Personal Devotion |
169 |
Propitiatory Worship |
169 |
Universal Magical Rules |
169 |
Magic Use Requirements |
170 |
Magical Resistance |
170 |
Personal Resistance |
170 |
Natural Resistance |
170 |
Resolving Magical Resistance |
170 |
Describing Magical Resistance |
171 |
Theist |
171 |
Sorceror |
172 |
Animist |
172 |
Mystic |
172 |
Magic in Combat |
172 |
Difficult Magics (D+x) |
172 |
Table: Difficult Task Table |
173 |
Other Side Magics |
173 |
Magic and Consequences |
173 |
6. Theistic Magic |
174 |
The God Plane |
174 |
Pantheons |
175 |
Great Gods |
175 |
Gods |
175 |
Picture: A Lunar Priest |
176 |
Enemy Gods |
177 |
Peeking into the God’s Houses |
177 |
Rules for Theism |
177 |
Gods’ Runes |
178 |
Theistic Magic |
178 |
Affinities |
178 |
Feats |
178 |
Piety |
178 |
Rituals and Myths |
179 |
Communal Worship |
179 |
Divine Aid |
179 |
Narrating Divine Aid |
180 |
Initiation |
180 |
Multiple Initiation |
181 |
Devotion |
181 |
Subcults |
181 |
Changing Initiation or Devotion within the Pantheon |
182 |
Changing Pantheon |
182 |
Theistic Character Creation |
182 |
Communal Worshipper |
182 |
During Play |
183 |
Benefits |
183 |
Obligations |
183 |
Initiate |
183 |
During Play |
183 |
Benefits |
183 |
Obligations |
183 |
Initiation to a Great God |
184 |
Devotee |
184 |
During Play |
184 |
Benefits |
184 |
Cult Secrets |
184 |
Subcult Secrets |
184 |
Obligations |
185 |
Devotion to a Great God |
185 |
7. Sorcerous Magic |
186 |
The Magic World |
186 |
A Peek into the Laws |
187 |
The One God |
187 |
The First Prophets |
187 |
The Abiding Book |
187 |
Later Prophets |
188 |
Saints |
188 |
Orders |
188 |
Picture: A Sorceress |
189 |
Sorcerous Orders |
190 |
Low Orders |
190 |
High Orders |
190 |
Liturgists |
191 |
Wizards |
191 |
Sorcerers |
191 |
Magic |
191 |
Blessings and Curses |
192 |
Praying for Blessings or Curses |
192 |
Grimoires |
192 |
Creating a Portal of Power |
193 |
Connecting to Spells |
194 |
Casting a Spell |
194 |
Tapping |
194 |
Miracles |
194 |
Sorcerous Character Creation |
196 |
Lay Church Membership |
196 |
During Play |
197 |
Benefits |
197 |
Obligations |
197 |
Credo of Malkion |
197 |
Natural Piety |
197 |
During Play |
197 |
Benefits |
198 |
Obligations |
198 |
Saintly Veneration |
198 |
During Play |
198 |
Fighting Orders and Guilds |
198 |
Benefits |
198 |
Obligations |
198 |
Liturgists |
198 |
During Play |
199 |
Benefits |
199 |
The Abiding Book |
199 |
Obligations |
199 |
Apprenticeship |
200 |
During Play |
200 |
Benefits |
200 |
Obligations |
200 |
Chapter or School Membership |
200 |
During Play |
200 |
Benefits |
201 |
Obligations |
201 |
8. Animist Magic |
202 |
The Spirit Plane |
202 |
Picture: A Shaman |
203 |
Peeking Past the Shamanic Circle |
204 |
Animistic Traditions |
204 |
Ancestor Worship |
205 |
Local Tradition |
205 |
Functional Tradition |
205 |
Hsunchen Peoples |
205 |
Tradition Secrets |
205 |
Spirits |
206 |
Shamans |
206 |
Rules for Animism |
207 |
Shamanic Abilities |
207 |
Tradition Knowledge |
207 |
Fetch |
208 |
Spirit Sight |
208 |
Spirit World Travel |
208 |
Shamanic Escape |
208 |
Spirit Combat |
208 |
Defeated Spirits |
209 |
Spirits from Inside the Tradition |
209 |
Spirits from Outside the Tradition |
209 |
Fetishes |
210 |
Integration of Spirits |
211 |
Spirit Possession |
211 |
Spirit Cults |
212 |
Animist Character Creation |
213 |
Member |
213 |
During Play |
213 |
Benefits |
213 |
Obligations |
213 |
Holy Person, Sacred Chief, Family Head |
213 |
During Play |
214 |
Benefits |
214 |
Obligations |
214 |
Shaman |
214 |
During Play |
214 |
Benefits |
215 |
Obligations |
215 |
Secondary Traditions |
215 |
Hsunchen Tribesman |
215 |
During Play |
216 |
Benefits |
216 |
Shapechange |
216 |
Obligations |
216 |
9. Mystic Magic |
217 |
The Other Side |
217 |
Mysticism in the World |
218 |
Non-Eastern Mystics |
218 |
Picture: Two Mystics |
219 |
Mystical Disciplines |
220 |
Mystic Philosophies |
220 |
Enlighten Masters |
220 |
Paths |
220 |
Dojos |
221 |
Illumination |
221 |
Rules for Mysticism |
222 |
Disciplines |
222 |
Physical Training |
222 |
Mental Training |
222 |
Spiritual Training |
223 |
Powers |
223 |
Balance |
223 |
Counters |
223 |
Refute |
223 |
Reflect |
224 |
Other Counters |
224 |
Countering the World |
224 |
Strikes |
225 |
Mystic Character Creation |
226 |
Orthodox Mystic |
226 |
Manifest Mystic Student |
226 |
During Play |
226 |
Benefits |
227 |
Obligations |
227 |
10. Advanced Magic |
227 |
Temples |
227 |
Sanctuaries |
228 |
Shrines |
228 |
Magical Home Defences |
228 |
Theist Towns |
228 |
Sorcerous Towns |
229 |
Animistic Villages |
229 |
Mystics |
229 |
Extending Magic |
230 |
Targets |
230 |
Table: Number of Targets Chart |
230 |
Distance |
230 |
Targeting |
230 |
Optional Physical Contact |
231 |
Mandatory Physical Contact |
231 |
Table: Base Distance Chart |
231 |
Duration |
231 |
Instantaneous Magics |
231 |
Ongoing Magics |
232 |
Increased Duration |
232 |
Table: Duration Chart |
232 |
Permanent Enchantments |
232 |
Effects of Enchantment |
233 |
Enchantment Resistance |
233 |
Iron and Runic Metals |
233 |
Table: Material Enchantment Resistance Chart |
234 |
Delayed Magic |
234 |
Cancel Ongoing Magic |
235 |
Rituals |
236 |
Elements of a Ritual |
236 |
Creating Rituals |
236 |
Table: Ritual Bonus Table |
237 |
Lunar Magical Cycles |
238 |
Lunar Power by Day |
238 |
The Glowline |
239 |
The Elemental Progression |
239 |
Picture: A Duck |
240 |
Enacting a Ritual |
241 |
Time Needed |
241 |
Benefits |
242 |
Community Participation |
243 |
Levels of Support |
243 |
Mixed Support |
243 |
Table: Community Participation Table |
244 |
Heroic Consequences Chart |
245 |
Table: Heroic Consequences Chart |
245 |
Divine Mechanics |
245 |
Change as a Divinity |
245 |
Slow Death of a Divinity |
245 |
Growth of a Divinity |
246 |
Misapplied Worship |
245 |
Costs of Misapplied Worship |
247 |
Misapplied Sacrifice |
247 |
Sacrificing to Sorcerous Entities |
247 |
Sacrificing to Spirit Entities |
247 |
Travel on the Other Side |
248 |
Otherworld Safety |
248 |
Misapplied Veneration |
248 |
Venerating Gods |
248 |
Venerating Spirit Entities |
249 |
Travel on the Other Side |
249 |
Otherworld Safety |
249 |
Misapplied Ecstatic Worship |
249 |
Ecstatic Worship of Gods |
249 |
Ecstatic Worship of Sorcerous Entities |
250 |
Travel on the Other Side |
250 |
Otherworld Safety |
250 |
Misapplied Mysticism |
250 |
Combined Worship |
251 |
Secrets and Subcults |
251 |
Classifying Otherworld Entities |
251 |
Charlatans and False Belief |
252 |